Tag Archives: teenagers

Finding Hope Through the Lens: How Photography Transformed a Teenager’s Cancer Journey

Posted on by
Reply

In 2016, LJ was just 19 years old and on the brink of a transformative journey. After graduating from college with commendable grades, he was excited to explore the world. However, he soon discovered what seemed like a harmless lump on his neck.

“I remember finding a large lump on my neck,” he recalls. “I felt exhausted all the time. It started to interfere with my life.”

Despite visiting the doctor, LJ was convinced it was “just an infection” and delayed follow-up appointments until he was urgently called back for test results. “The doctor told me, ‘This is leukemia,’” LJ reflects. “I couldn’t believe it—cancer at my age? I didn’t even know what leukemia was back then.”

We spoke with LJ about his inspiring cancer journey, how photography became a vital coping tool during a year of intensive treatment, and how Macmillan Cancer Support played a crucial role in guiding him through pivotal decisions in his life.

LJ’s Story: A Life-Altering Diagnosis

In 2016, LJ received a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, an aggressive cancer necessitating immediate action. Instead of diving into student life, he faced grueling hospital stays with a bleak prognosis of only a 5% survival rate.

“I was stuck in a hospital bed undergoing chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplants… it was overwhelming,” LJ shares. “I endured numerous procedures and constant needles…”

“The hardest part is hearing that treatments aren’t effective,” he continues. “Chemotherapy fails, radiotherapy fails, surgery fails. There’s a lot of chaos and distress. Despite your hopes and beliefs, things might not go as planned.”

LJ and his tutor Margot: discovering a passion for photography during treatment

Finding Freedom in Photography

Before his diagnosis, LJ was a typical teenager, exploring creativity, traveling, skateboarding, and enjoying time with friends in London. Suddenly, he found himself “isolated in a room or a ward”, painfully aware that days felt like they had no end.

As the walls of his physical environment closed in, LJ discovered that photography and videography opened a new world for him. By documenting his experiences through photos and videos, he created a much-needed escape: a creative outlet and a way to process his reality.

“I had a little Canon PowerShot G7 camera at the time,” he shares. “Taking photos helped me express my feelings without leaving the hospital. I could capture my emotions and enjoy the creative process. It was incredibly fulfilling.”

Macmillan’s guidance empowered LJ to make important decisions during critical moments

Macmillan Support During a Crucial Time

During this challenging treatment phase, LJ came across vital information from Macmillan Cancer Support in the form of a pamphlet, which provided essential guidance for his future. “I received a leaflet from Macmillan about cancer and fertility,” he states.

“After multiple surgeries, fertility can be affected, and I learned that I might not be able to have children,” he reveals. “The insights in that pamphlet helped me comprehend my situation significantly.”

Now, a decade after his diagnosis and in remission, the support from Macmillan has made a lasting impact on LJ’s life. “Without that booklet, I would have likely made decisions I’d regret,” he states.

Gifts in wills fund over a third of Macmillan’s services, including the resources that aided LJ, ensuring continued access to trusted cancer support, from helplines to informational booklets and community support across the UK. Having clear guidance and support from Macmillan was pivotal for LJ in making informed decisions about sperm storage at a critical time.

Thanks to Macmillan’s support, LJ is dedicated to raising awareness about cancer in young men

Why Consider Leaving a Gift to Macmillan Cancer Support in Your Will?

As LJ approaches a decade since his diagnosis, he has transformed his life, establishing himself as a skilled fashion and event photographer. You can view his remarkable portfolio here. Additionally, he is involved with Macmillan, helping to spread cancer awareness among young men.

“Macmillan helped me share my story and be heard. If my experience inspires someone to keep fighting, then I feel fulfilled,” he adds.

In the UK, someone is diagnosed with cancer every 90 seconds. LJ understands the importance of having Macmillan’s support when it matters most, and he has a special message for those contemplating leaving a legacy gift.

“Each day, many people receive a cancer diagnosis. While no one can fully understand your feelings, having someone who can clarify information about your cancer is invaluable. That’s the kind of support Macmillan offers.”

Thanks to Macmillan’s guidance, LJ was able to better understand his situation while focusing on his passions. Your legacy gift will empower Macmillan to provide essential care to more individuals facing cancer, regardless of their background. For more information on how to leave a gift in your Will to Macmillan Cancer Support, request our free Gifting in a Will guide.


© Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity registered in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also active in Northern Ireland. A company by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 2400969). Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT number: 668265007

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Meta restricts live streaming on Instagram by teenagers

Posted on by
Reply

Meta is enhancing safety measures for teenagers on Instagram by implementing a LiveStreaming block, as social media companies extend their under-18 safety measures to Facebook and messenger platforms.

Individuals under the age of 16 will now be restricted from using the live Instagram feature unless they have parental authorization. Additionally, parental permission is required to disable the ability to obscure images containing suspected nudity in direct messages.

These changes come alongside the expansion of Instagram’s teen account system to Facebook and Messenger. Teen accounts, introduced last year, are automatically set for users under 18, with features like daily time limits set by parents, restrictions on usage at specific times, and monitoring of message exchanges.

Facebook and Messenger teen accounts will initially launch in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. Similar to Instagram accounts, users under 16 must have parental permission to adjust settings, while 16 and 17-year-olds can make changes independently.

Meta disclosed that Instagram teen accounts have fewer than 54 million users globally, with over 90% of 13-15-year-olds adhering to default limits.

These announcements coincide with the UK enforcing online safety laws. Since March, websites and apps covered by the law must take steps to prevent or remove illegal content like child sexual abuse, fraud, terrorist material, etc.

The Act also includes provisions to shield minors from harmful content related to suicide or self-harm, requiring protection for those under 18. Recent reports suggest the law may be softened as part of a UK-US trade deal, sparking backlash from critics.

Skip past newsletter promotions

At the launch of Instagram restrictions, Nick Clegg, then Meta’s President of Global Affairs, highlighted the goal of shifting the balance in favor of parental controls. These developments follow Clegg’s recent remarks on the lack of parental use of child safety features.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Potential harmful effects of banning teenagers’ smartphone use for academic purposes

Posted on by
Reply

According to a major academic mission by the UK government to review the impact of smartphones on teenagers, a blanket ban is considered “unrealistic and potentially harmful.” Amy Oben, a former member of Cambridge University, leads the research on children and smartphone use commissioned by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), along with other academics from various UK universities.

Despite resistance from the Minister to impose new legal restrictions on social media and smartphones for children, beyond existing online safety laws that protect against harmful content, some lawmakers are advocating for further restrictions such as limiting access to social media for individuals under 16, a complete ban on smartphones in schools, or regulating social media algorithms that expose young teens to addictive content.


A recent paper by four co-authors of the British Journal of Medicine (BMJ) argued that bans and restrictions are ineffective, although they acknowledged the importance of providing children and teens with phone-free spaces.

The paper highlighted the challenges of protecting youth from potential harms of technology while also recognizing the benefits of information access and social support provided by smartphones and social media.

Researchers emphasized the need for a nuanced approach, acknowledging that there is no one-size-fits-all solution and that banning devices could hinder children’s rights to access beneficial technologies that support their development.

The Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, appointed Orben to lead further research on the impact of smartphones on child health and welfare. Orben emphasized the complexity of understanding the digital impact on youth and the importance of generating quality evidence for informed decision-making.

Ministers face pressure to address the use of smartphones by teenagers, especially concerning harmful online content. Discussions about restrictions on social media algorithms for teens and bans on smartphones in schools are ongoing.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is reviewing guidelines on smartphone bans in schools to assess their effectiveness, while Prime Minister Kiel Starmer is engaging in discussions with stakeholders to address potential harm associated with smartphone and social media use.

DSIT has been approached for comment on this matter.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Children and teenagers experience varying symptoms from Long Corona

Posted on by
Reply

The impact of the long corona pandemic appears to vary by age

Damir Cudic/Getty Images

Symptoms of long COVID appear to be very different in young children and adolescents, and a better understanding of how the symptoms manifest could aid in diagnosis.

So far, most research on long-COVID has focused on adults, in part because of a “misconception that children can't get long-COVID,” he said. Rachel Gross At New York University.

Gross and his colleagues are currently following 751 children ages 6 to 11 and 3,109 children ages 12 to 17 whose parents say they had previously been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The researchers defined long COVID as having at least one symptom that lasted more than a month, started or worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was present at the time of the study.

Among young children, these symptoms primarily included sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and abdominal problems such as pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation.

The symptoms were uncommon among about 150 children of the same age who had not previously been infected, and were confirmed by the absence of antibodies against the virus in their blood samples.

In contrast, symptoms in the 1,300 uninfected young people typically included pain, fatigue and loss of smell or taste.

It's unclear why symptoms differ across different age groups, but Gross said it could be due to differences in hormones or immune systems, or that teenagers may simply be better able to vocalize their symptoms than younger kids. Danilo Buoncenzo A study from the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, Italy. For example, a teenager may complain of fatigue, but a caregiver may only notice lingering symptoms in a younger child when they vomit.

Armed with this data, the researchers developed a score that ranks how likely a young person's symptoms are to have long-Covid. Currently, diagnosis depends on doctors ruling out other illnesses and recognizing that long-Covid can take many different forms. “Doctors would prefer a score or more objective criteria. Such a tool would definitely help clinicians at least recognize that a child may have long-Covid,” Buoncenso said.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com